When Robert was 11 years old, he played baseball with my younger brother & had a huge crush on me. He said he used to stare at me in the stands from the dugout, but he was too shy to say anything. Fast forward 12 years later, Robert and I reconnected via - YOU GUESSED IT - Instagram. A modern love story! We got to know each other over the phone for about 6 months before I moved back to Houston, just in time for him to get home for the off-season. On September 19, 2018, Robert asked me to go to an Astros game with him, but I was already going with my family. We agreed to meet up later in the game (after a few drinks to calm the nerves). But, as fate would have it, we ran into each other IN LINE before even entering the stadium. I remember seeing him walk up and thinking how and thinking "WOW". Tall, dark, and handsome. Couldn't ask for more. But I was not prepared to see him, so I gave him a quick hug and we went our separate ways for the time being. After getting to our seats, we realized his seats were directly behind ours, just a few rows up. I sat with my family for about 15 minutes before leaving them to go get a drink with Robert and sit with him and his friends. There was an instant connection and time literally flew by. We couldn't wait to see each other next, and we've literally been inseparable ever since.

Hayley and I had been talking about getting married for awhile and one afternoon I told her we should go to Robbins Brothers "just to look" at some rings. I had no intention of purchasing a ring that day and I know she wasn't expecting that either. But then we found THE one. Kinda. We found the perfect diamond and the perfect setting for a custom engagement ring. We both loved it. It was perfect. Just like her. Without her knowing, while she was still looking around the store, I bought the ring. She had no idea. Afterwards, she asked what was taking so long in the office and I told her we got caught up talking about baseball, but little did she know I had just purchased the ring that would change our lives. A couple weeks later, I secretly picked up the ring like James Bond, because you know how nosy Hayley can be. I had the ring for over a month just waiting to be put on her perfect little finger. I opened the ring box and looked at it almost every day. Meanwhile, my family and I were planning the perfect day for her. On January 25, 2020, I proposed in front of Minute Maid Park, where we first "met" in line before an Astros game. That day was filled with nerves and anxiety, but mostly excitement, and we had spent the entire day before together, so you can imagine the emotions I was feeling. I had my parents drive her to the stadium for "lunch with the coach I was demonstrating drills for". I sat in front of the stadium watching her clueless self walk towards me. Her parents were hiding around the corner watching, too. As she walked up, I threw rose petals on the ground but, OF COURSE, a car drove by right after and blew them all away. Dugger Luck. But it didn't matter, she said YES!!! I blacked out, my legs were shaky and heavy, and I even opened the box the wrong way, but I didn't care because she said yes to forever with me. I finally got to give the most perfect girl the ring she deserved. I felt like the luckiest man in the world and still do!